Medicine and Moral Reasoning

by K. W. M. Fulford, Grant Gillett, Janet Martin Soskice

Overview

This collection examines prevalent assumptions in moral reasoning which are often accepted uncritically in medical ethics. It introduces a range of perspectives from philosophy and medicine on the nature of moral reasoning and relates these to illustrative problems, such as New Reproductive Technologies, the treatment of sick children, the assessment of quality of life, genetics, involuntary psychiatric treatment and abortion. In each case, the contributors address the nature and worth of the moral theories involved in discussions of the relevant issues, and focus on the types of reasoning which are employed. 'Medical ethics is in danger of becoming a subject kept afloat by a series of platitudes about respect for persons or the importance of autonomy. This book is a bold and imaginative attempt to break away from such rhetoric into genuine informative dialogue between philosophers and doctors, with no search after consensus.' Mary Warnock

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521459464
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/03/1994
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.51(d)

Table of Contents

List of contributors; Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction: diverse ethics K. W. M. Fulford, Grant R. Gillett and Janet M. Soskice; 2. Darwinism and ethics Mary Midgley; 3. Creation and relation Janet M. Soskice; 4. Embryo experimentation: public policy in a pluralist society Richard M. Hare; 5. Ethical considerations in genetic testing: an empirical study of presymptomatic diagnosis of Huntington's disease Jason Brandt; 6. Identity matters Michael Lockwood; 7. The virtues in a professional setting William F. May; 8. Medical ethics, moral philosophy and moral tradition Thomas H. Murray; 9. Roman suicide Miriam Griffin; 10. Women and children first Grant R. Gillett; 11. Moral uncertainty and human embryo experimentation Graham M. Oddie; 12. Morality: invention or discovery? James O. Urmson; 13. Quality of life and health care Roger Crisp; 14. Dependency: the foundational value in medical ethics Alastair V. Campbell; 15. Not more medical ethics K. W. M. Fulford; Index.